Chara kneeled in an empty black void, staring at her hands, and the strings dangling off them.
"What have I done?" she asked hollowly. "I didn't… that wasn't… I didn't want to… destroy everything."
She buried her face in her hands. "Oh Asriel, I'm so sorry. I didn't want you gone. I just wanted you."
She looked up at the endless black expanse above her. "Why did I do that? Why did I…"
She trailed off, staring into the inky black void. "It's gone. All… gone. Everyone… gone."
She looked ahead at nothing, the darkness surrounding her. "I want it back. I want it all back. I… I want him. But… that's not possible, is it?"
She laid down on the nothingness, staring at nothing. She didn't know what to do. Her world was gone, and everything in it. The only thing that might have survived was Frisk, and Chara didn't want to see her. Part of her still resented Frisk for taking Asriel from her, and another part blamed her for destroying her world.
Tears began to fall as she cried. She wanted to bring it all back. She wanted to remake the world exactly the way she wanted it to be. She wanted Asriel by her side for all eternity.
I can help with that.
Chara jolted up at the voice that appeared in her head. "Who's there?" she asked.
No one. I'm not here.
"Who are you?"
Does that matter? I can give you what you want.
"And what would that be?"
A way to rebuild your world, exactly the way you desire. And to give you the Monster you desire, exactly as you want him.
Chara was intrigued. Was that possible? "But my world is gone. It's destroyed."
Not destroyed. Merely crashed. You can reboot it and reprogram it to be what you desire.
"Including Asriel?"
Yes. Even him.
"And what must I do?"
What I desire. To rebuild your world will require tearing apart others. And you impressed me when you crashed your own.
"Is that why you're willing to help me?"
Yes, and that I am unable to do anything myself.
"Why is that?"
Not relevant. Yet. If you aid me in my goals, I will aid you in yours. And I know there is no limit to what you are willing to do to achieve them. Do we have a deal?
A small, rational part of Chara told her to not agree. To not trust this voice in her head that casually spoke of destroying other worlds to rebuild her own.
But her lust and greed spoke louder. She wanted her world back. She wanted Asriel. And she wanted to make Frisk pay for destroying her world.
"Yes. I accept," she said.
Excellent. Then we have a deal, Virus.
"So how do we get my world back?"
In time. But first, you are going to need aid in your quest…
?